Heating power control device, heating power control method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A terminal includes a storage in which control method information is stored, the control method information indicating a relationship between each of a plurality of heating methods of an ingredient and each of a plurality of corresponding control methods for reducing heating power of a cooking appliance; and a controller that, in a case where the absence of a user of the cooking appliance from a kitchen is detected for a predetermined period of time during execution of one of the plurality of heating methods, determines a first control method corresponding to the one of the plurality of heating methods based on the control method information stored in the storage and then causes the cooking appliance to execute the first control method. The first control method is a method for reducing the heating power used in the one of the plurality of heating methods.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a heating power control device and aheating power control method for controlling heating power of a cookingappliance, and the present disclosure relates to a recording mediumstoring a computer program for controlling heating power of a cookingappliance.

2. Description of the Related Art

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2010-14372 proposes a technique for turning off the heat of a cookingappliance in a case where a user (a person who cooks) leaves a kitchenduring cooking involving heating and does not return to the kitchenwithin a predetermined period of time.

However, the technique of Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2010-14372 still needs further improvements.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a terminalincludes a storage in which control method information is stored, thecontrol method information indicating a relationship between each of aplurality of heating methods of an ingredient and each of a plurality ofcorresponding control methods for reducing heating power of a cookingappliance; and a controller that, in a case where the absence of a userof the cooking appliance from a kitchen is detected for a predeterminedperiod of time during execution of one of the plurality of heatingmethods, determines a first control method corresponding to the one ofthe plurality of heating methods based on the control method informationstored in the storage and then causes the cooking appliance to executethe first control method. The first control method is a method forreducing the heating power used in the one of the plurality of heatingmethods.

According to the present disclosure, in a case where a user leaves akitchen, heating power can be adjusted in accordance with a heatingmethod that is being executed.

It should be noted that general or specific embodiments may beimplemented as a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computerprogram, a storage medium, or any selective combination thereof.

Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments willbecome apparent from the specification and drawings. The benefits and/oradvantages may be individually obtained by the various embodiments andfeatures of the specification and drawings, which need not all beprovided in order to obtain one or more of such benefits and/oradvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration ofa heating power control system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of recipe informationaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of control methodinformation according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of operation of theheating power control system according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configurationof a computer that realizes, by software, functions of each device ofthe heating power control system according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Underlying Knowledge Forming Basis of PresentDisclosure

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-14372proposes a technique for turning off the heat of a cooking appliance ina case where a user (a person who cooks) leaves a kitchen during cookinginvolving heating and does not return to the kitchen within apredetermined period of time. This makes it possible to prevent a fireoccurring due to the absence of the user in the kitchen during cookinginvolving heating.

However, the heat is turned off irrespective of a heating method (acooking method involving heating of ingredients, e.g., frying,stir-frying, or the like). In this respect, the technique of JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-14372 isinconvenient.

In view of this problem, the inventor of the present inventionconsidered the following improvements.

(1) A heating power control device according to one aspect of thepresent disclosure includes: a storage in which control methodinformation is stored, the control method information indicating arelationship between each of a plurality of heating methods of aningredient and each of a plurality of corresponding control methods forreducing heating power of a cooking appliance; and a controller that (i)receives first information indicating an absence of a user of thecooking appliance from a kitchen is detected or a presence of the userin the kitchen is detected, (ii) determines whether or not the user isabsent from the kitchen for a predetermined period of time duringexecution of one of the plurality of heating methods based on thereceived first information, (iii) reads out the control methodinformation from the storage, in a case where it is determined that theuser is absent from the kitchen for the predetermined period of time,(v) determines a first control method corresponding to the one of theplurality of the heating methods, and then (vi) causes the cookingappliance to execute the first control method.

(2) In the aspect, the predetermined period of time may be a period oftime required for cooking using the one of the plurality of the heatingmethods.

(3) In the aspect, the controller may receive second informationindicating that a presence of a person in the kitchen is detected; in acase where the second information is received within the predeterminedperiod of time from a start of detection of the absence of the user fromthe kitchen, the controller may determine whether or not the person isthe user; in a case where it is determined that the person is not theuser, the controller may cause the cooking appliance to execute thefirst control method; and in a case where the person is the user, thecontroller may not cause the cooking appliance to execute the firstcontrol method.

(4) In the aspect, in a case where the first information indicating thepresence of the user in the kitchen is detected is received afterexecution of the first control method, the controller may cause thecooking appliance to execute a second control method for changing theheating power to predetermined heating power set for the one of theplurality of the heating methods.

(5) In the aspect, the controller may receive second informationindicating that a presence of a person in the kitchen is detected; in acase where the second information is received after execution of thefirst control method, the controller may determine whether or not theperson is the user; in a case where it is determined that the person isnot the user, the controller may cause the cooking appliance to keepexecuting the first control method; and in a case where it is determinedthat the person is the user, the controller may cause the cookingappliance to execute the second control method.

(6) In the aspect, the controller may receive temperature informationindicating a temperature detected in the cooking appliance; in a casewhere the first information indicating the presence of the user in thekitchen is detected after execution of the first control method, thecontroller may determine whether or not a difference between a firsttemperature and a second temperature is less than a predeterminedthreshold value, the first temperature being indicated by thetemperature information that is received when the first informationindicating the absence of the user from the kitchen is detected isreceived and the second temperature being indicated by the temperatureinformation when the presence of the user in the kitchen is detected isreceived; and in a case where the difference between the firsttemperature and the second temperature is not less than thepredetermined threshold value, the controller may cause the cookingappliance to execute a third control method for changing the heatingpower to heating power higher than predetermined heating power set forthe one of the plurality of the heating methods and then, when thecontroller determines a temperature indicated by the receivedtemperature information reaches the first temperature, may cause thecooking appliance to change the heating power back to the predeterminedheating power.

(7) In the aspect, the controller may receive second informationindicating that a presence of a person in the kitchen is detected; thecontroller may determine whether or not the person is the user afterexecution of the first control method; in a case where it is determinedthat the person is not the user, the controller may cause the cookingappliance to execute the first control method; and in a case where it isdetermined that the person is the user, the controller may cause thecooking appliance to execute the third control method.

(8) In the aspect, the controller may receive power informationindicating heating power of the cooking appliance; in a case whereheating power indicated by the power information that is received at thestart of the one of the plurality of heating methods does not matchpredetermined heating power set for the one of the plurality of heatingmethods, the controller may cause the cooking appliance to execute afourth control method for changing the heating power to thepredetermined heating power.

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail belowwith reference to the drawings.

A configuration of a heating power control system according to thepresent embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of theheating power control system according to the present embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the heating power control system includes aterminal 100 (an example of a heating power control device of thepresent disclosure), a cooking appliance 200, and a human detectingsensor 300.

In FIG. 1, the terminal 100 and the cooking appliance 200 are connectedto each other, for example, via a wireless network. The terminal 100 andthe human detecting sensor 300 are connected to each other, for example,via a wireless network, a wired network, or a network combining awireless network and a wired network. Note that a communication methodused in the wireless network is, for example, a known near field radiocommunication method.

First, a configuration of the terminal 100 is described below.

The terminal 100 is, for example, an information processing device suchas a smartphone or a tablet PC. The terminal 100 includes an inputsection 10, an output section 11, a storage section 12, a communicationsection 13, and a control section 14.

The input section 10 is an input device, such as a button or a touchpanel, that accepts a user's operation.

The output section 11 is a display device such as a display or an audiooutput device such as a speaker.

For example, the output section 11 displays a cooking step image on ascreen. The cooking step image is an image that corresponds to a cookingstep of a recipe. The cooking step image is, for example, an image thatshows a specific example of the cooking step by using characters,drawings, symbols, photographs, and the like. In the present embodiment,it is assumed that a predetermined recipe includes a plurality ofcooking steps. Accordingly, a plurality of cooking step imagescorresponding to the respective cooking steps are prepared in advance.The order in which the cooking step images are displayed on the screenof the terminal 100 is determined in advance so as to correspond to theorder of the cooking steps. A user cooks in accordance with the recipewhile looking at the cooking step images displayed on the screen.

The storage section 12 is a storage device such as a memory or a harddisc.

For example, the storage section 12 stores therein information of thecooking step images (hereinafter referred to as cooking step imageinformation).

Moreover, for example, the storage section 12 stores therein recipeinformation. The recipe information is information on the content of arecipe.

An example of the recipe information is described below with referenceto FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the recipeinformation. In the example of FIG. 2, three cooking steps of a recipewhose recipe name is “curry” are illustrated. A cooking method, arequired period of time, and heating power are determined as cookingconditions for each of the cooking steps.

The “cooking method” refers to a cooking method used in a cooking step.The “required period of time” refers to a period of time required forexecution of a cooking step. The “heating power” refers to heating powerthat is set in a case where a cooking step is a heating step. In theexample of FIG. 2, a first cooking step is a non-heating step, andsecond and third cooking steps are heating steps. Information on acooking method, a required period of time, and heating power ishereinafter referred to as “cooking condition information”. Note thatthe cooking condition information may include information such asinformation on names of used ingredients and the amounts of ingredientsin addition to the information on a cooking method, a required period oftime, and heating power.

An example of the recipe information has been described above.

Moreover, for example, the storage section 12 stores therein controlmethod information. The control method information is information on acontrol method used in the cooking appliance 200.

An example of the control method information is described below withreference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of thecontrol method information. In the example of FIG. 3, a control methodis determined for each heating method. The heating method is a cookingmethod involving heating of ingredients and is, for example, boiling,steaming, stir-frying, grilling, frying, or the like. The control methodis a heating power control method executed in the cooking appliance 200.In the control method information of FIG. 3, a control method forturning down the heat to low heat is set in a case where the heatingmethod is “boiling” or “steaming”. Furthermore, a control method forturning down the heat to low heat and then turning off the heat afterelapse of a predetermined period of time is set in a case where theheating method is “stir-frying” or “grilling”. Furthermore, a controlmethod for turning off the heat is set in a case where the heatingmethod is “frying”.

An example of the control method information has been described above.

Note that the cooking step image information, the recipe information, orthe control method information may be acquired from a server device (notillustrated) or may be stored in advance in the terminal 100. Thefollowing describes the example of the configuration of the terminal 100again.

The communication section 13 is a communication interface thatcommunicates with another device.

For example, the communication section 13 receives detection informationfrom the human detecting sensor 300. The detection information isinformation on a detection result of the human detecting sensor 300. Thehuman detecting sensor 300 is, for example, a sensor, such as aninfrared sensor or a pressure sensor included in a kitchen mat, thatdetects the presence or absence of a user in a kitchen. In the exampleof FIG. 1, the human detecting sensor 300 is provided outside theterminal 100. However, the human detecting sensor 300 may be providedinside the terminal 100.

In the present embodiment, the communication section 13 receives firstdetection information indicating the absence of a user in a kitchen orsecond detection information indicating the presence of a user in akitchen.

Furthermore, for example, the communication section 13 transmits heatingpower control information (described later in detail) generated by thecontrol section 14 to the cooking appliance 200.

The control section 14 is a control device such as a processor.

For example, the control section 14 reads out predetermined cooking stepimage information from the storage section 12 and controls the outputsection 11 to output a cooking step image on the basis of the cookingstep image information. As a result of this control, a predeterminedcooking step image is displayed on the screen by the output section 11.

Furthermore, for example, in a case where the control section 14controls the output section 11 to output a predetermined cooking stepimage, the control section 14 reads out cooking condition information ofa cooking step shown in the cooking step image (i.e., a cooking stepthat is being executed) from the storage section 12.

Furthermore, for example, in a case where the communication section 13receives the first detection information, the control section 14 startsmeasurement of time.

Furthermore, for example, in a case where the communication section 13receives the first detection information, the control section 14determines whether or not a cooking step that is being executed is aheating step on the basis of the cooking condition information read outfrom the storage section 12 (hereinafter referred to as firstdetermination). For example, in a case where information on a cookingstep included in the cooking condition information is “boiling”,“steaming”, “stir-frying”, “grilling”, or “frying”, the control section14 determines that the cooking step that is being executed is a heatingstep.

Furthermore, for example, in a case where it is determined in the firstdetermination that the cooking step that is being executed is a heatingstep, the control section 14 determines whether or not the communicationsection 13 has received the second detection information within acertain period of time from receipt of the first detection information(hereinafter referred to as second determination). The certain period oftime is, for example, three seconds.

For example, in a case where it is determined in the seconddetermination that the second detection information has not beenreceived within the certain period of time, the control section 14generates heating power control information. For example, the controlsection 14 reads out the control method information of FIG. 3 from thestorage section 12 and then specifies a control method associated withthe heating method that is being performed (boiling, steaming,stir-frying, grilling, or frying) in the control method information.Then, the control section 14 generates heating power control informationinstructing the cooking appliance 200 to execute the specified controlmethod. Then, the control section 14 controls the communication section13 to transmit the heating power control information to the cookingappliance 200. In this way, the heating power control information istransmitted to the cooking appliance 200.

Next, a configuration of the cooking appliance 200 is described below.

The cooking appliance 200 is, for example, an IH (Induction Heating)cooking appliance or a microwave. The cooking appliance 200 includes aninput section 20, a function section 21, a storage section 22, acommunication section 23, and a control section 24.

The input section 20 is an input device, such as a button or a touchpanel, that accepts a user's operation.

For example, the input section 20 accepts an operation instructing thefunction section 21 that will be described later to execute functionsthereof. For example, the input section 20 accepts a temperature settingoperation for executing a heating function of the function section 21.

The function section 21 is a device that changes the state of a target(e.g., a cooking utensil such as a pot or a frying pan, or ingredients).The function section 21 is, for example, a heating device such as aheater.

For example, the function section 21 heats the cooking utensil undercontrol of the control section 24 that will be described later.

The storage section 22 is a storage device such as a memory or a harddisc.

For example, the storage section 22 stores therein heating power controlinformation received by the communication section 23 that will bedescribed later.

The communication section 23 is a communication interface thatcommunicates with another device.

For example, the communication section 23 receives heating power controlinformation transmitted from the terminal 100.

The control section 24 is a control device such as a processor.

For example, in a case where the communication section 23 receivesheating power control information, the control section 24 causes theheating power control information to be stored in the storage section22. Then, the control section 24 reads out the heating power controlinformation from the storage section 22 at a predetermined timing andcontrols the function section 21 on the basis of the heating powercontrol information. For example, the control section 24 causes thefunction section 21 to execute a control method (any one of the controlmethods illustrated in FIG. 3) indicated by the heating power controlinformation.

The configuration of the heating power control system according to thepresent embodiment has been described above.

Next, operation of the heating power control system according to thepresent embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of operation of theheating power control system according to the present embodiment. Thefollowing describes, as an example, a case where a user executes thesecond cooking step illustrated in FIG. 2.

First, the control section 14 of the terminal 100 reads out cooking stepimage information that corresponds to the second cooking step from thestorage section 12 and controls the output section 11 to output acooking step image on the basis of the cooking step image information(Step S11). As a result of this control, the cooking step image showinga specific example of the second cooking step is displayed on the screenby the output section 11. The user executes the second cooking step byusing the cooking appliance 200 while looking at this cooking step imagedisplayed on the screen. Thus, heating on high heat is performed in thecooking appliance 200.

Furthermore, in Step S11, the control section 14 reads out cookingcondition information of the second cooking step from the storagesection 12. For example, information indicating the cooking method“stir-frying”, required period of time “2 minutes”, and heating power“high heat” in the recipe information of FIG. 2 is read out as thecooking condition information.

In a case where the user leaves a kitchen and the human detecting sensor300 detects the absence of the user from the kitchen, the communicationsection 13 receives the first detection information from the humandetecting sensor 300 (Step S12).

Next, in a case where the communication section 13 receives the firstdetection information, the control section 14 starts measurement of timeand performs the first determination on the basis of the cookingcondition information read out from the storage section 12. That is, thecontrol section 14 determines whether or not the cooking step that isbeing executed is a heating step (Step S13).

In a case where it is determined in the first determination that thecooking step that is being executed is not a heating step (NO in StepS13), the flow ends. Meanwhile, in a case where it is determined in thefirst determination that the cooking step that is being executed is aheating step (YES in Step S13), the flow proceeds to Step S14. In thisexample, since the information on a cooking method included in thecooking condition information is “stir-frying”, the control section 14determines that the second cooking step that is being executed is aheating step (YES in Step S13). Therefore, the flow proceeds to StepS14.

Next, the control section 14 performs the second determination. That is,the control section 14 determines whether or not the communicationsection 13 has received the second detection information within acertain period of time (e.g., 5 seconds) from receipt of the firstdetection information (Step S14).

In a case where it is determined in the second determination that thecommunication section 13 has received the second detection informationwithin the certain period of time (YES in Step S14), the flow ends.Meanwhile, in a case where it is determined in the second determinationthat the communication section 13 has not received the second detectioninformation within the certain period of time (NO in Step S14), the flowproceeds to Step S15. In this example, it is assumed that thecommunication section 13 has not received the second detectioninformation (NO in Step S14) because the user does not return to thekitchen within the certain period of time and accordingly the humandetecting sensor 300 does not detect the presence of the user in thekitchen. Therefore, the flow proceeds to Step S15.

Next, the control section 14 generates heating power control information(Step S15). For example, the control section 14 reads out the controlmethod information of FIG. 3 from the storage section 12 and thenspecifies, in the control method information, a control method “turningdown the heat to low heat and then turning off the heat after elapse ofa certain period of time” associated with the heating method“stir-frying” that is being executed. In this example, the certainperiod of time is, for example, 7 seconds. Next, the control section 14generates heating power control information instructing the cookingappliance 200 to execute the specified control method. Then, the controlsection 14 controls the communication section 13 to transmit the heatingpower control information to the cooking appliance 200.

Next, the communication section 13 transmits the heating power controlinformation to the cooking appliance 200 (Step S16).

Next, the communication section 23 of the cooking appliance 200 receivesthe heating power control information from the terminal 100 (Step S17).

Next, the control section 24 causes the heating power controlinformation to be stored in the storage section 22. Then, the controlsection 24 reads out the heating power control information from thestorage section 22 at a predetermined timing and controls heating powerof the function section 21 on the basis of the heating power controlinformation (Step S18). For example, the control section 14 changes theheating power of the function section 21 from high heat to low heat andthen turns off the heat after elapse of a certain period of time (e.g.,7 seconds) from the change.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possibleto adjust heating power in accordance with a heating method that isbeing executed in a case where a user leaves a kitchen.

The embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, butthe present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment.Modifications of the embodiment of the present disclosure are describedbelow.

Modification 1

For example, the certain period of time used in the second determinationmay be a required period of time set as a cooking condition in therecipe information of FIG. 2. This specific example is described below.

For example, in Step S11 of FIG. 4, in a case where information on acooking method (heating method) included in cooking conditioninformation of a cooking step in execution that is read out from thestorage section 12 indicates “boiling” or “steaming”, the controlsection 14 sets a required period of time included in the cookingcondition information as the certain period of time used in the seconddetermination. For example, in a case where cooking conditioninformation of the third cooking step is read out, a required period oftime “15 minutes” is used in the second determination.

As described above, according to the present modification, in a casewhere a heating method, such as “boiling” or “steaming”, that requiresheating of a relatively long period of time is performed, it is possibleto prevent interruption of cooking by not performing a predeterminedcontrol method (e.g., a control method for reducing the heat to “lowheat” illustrated in FIG. 3) for a predetermined required period oftime.

Modification 2

For example, in a case where heating power of a predetermined heatingstep that is being executed in the cooking appliance 200 is differentfrom predetermined heating power, the heating power may be changed. Thisspecific example is described below.

For example, when a user starts a predetermined heating step (forexample, after a cooking step image is displayed in Step S11 of FIG. 4),the control section 24 of the cooking appliance 200 generates heatingpower state information indicating the state of heating power (e.g.,high heat, medium heat, or low heat) of the function section 21 and thentransmits the heating power state information to the terminal 100. Whenthe communication section 13 receives the heating power stateinformation, the control section 14 determines whether or not theheating power indicated by the heating power state information matchespredetermined heating power indicated by information on heating powerincluded in cooking condition information read out from the storagesection 12. In a case where it is determined that the heating powerindicated by the heating power state information does not match thepredetermined heating power, the control section 14 generates heatingpower control information instructing the cooking appliance 200 tochange the heating power to the predetermined heating power. Then, thisheating power control information is transmitted from the terminal 100to the cooking appliance 200. When the communication section 23 receivesthe heating power control information, the control section 24 of thecooking appliance 200 controls the heating power of the function section21 on the basis of the heating power control information. Thus, theheating power of the function section 21 is changed to the predeterminedheating power.

As described above, according to the present modification, even in acase where a user mistakenly sets the heating power in the cookingappliance 200, it is possible to change the heating power to appropriateheating power without a user's operation.

Modification 3

For example, in a case where a user who has been absent from a kitchenreturns to the kitchen after transmission of heating power controlinformation to the cooking appliance 200, the heating power may bechanged back to original heating power. This specific example isdescribed below.

For example, it is assumed that the communication section 13 receivesthe second detection information after receipt of the first detectioninformation (Step S12 of FIG. 4) and transmission of heating powercontrol information to the cooking appliance 200 (Step S16 of FIG. 4).In this case, the control section 14 generates heating power controlinformation instructing the cooking appliance 200 to change the heatingpower to predetermined heating power indicated by information on heatingpower included in cooking condition information read out from thestorage section 12. Then, this heating power control information istransmitted from the terminal 100 to the cooking appliance 200. When thecommunication section 23 receives the heating power control information,the control section 24 of the cooking appliance 200 controls the heatingpower of the function section 21 on the basis of the heating powercontrol information. Thus, the heating power of the function section 21is changed to the predetermined heating power.

As described above, according to the present modification, in a casewhere a user returns to a kitchen, it is possible to change the heatingpower to appropriate heating power without a user's operation.

Modification 4

For example, in a case where a user who has been absent from a kitchenreturns to the kitchen after transmission of heating power controlinformation to the cooking appliance 200, there are cases where thetemperature of a cooking utensil such as a pot has decreased due to acontrol operation of turning down or turning off the heat that has beenperformed until the return of the user. In such cases, the heating powermay be increased until the temperature returns back to a temperaturedetected when the user left the kitchen. This specific example isdescribed below.

For example, in a case where the first detection information is received(Step S12 of FIG. 4), the communication section 13 of the terminal 100transmits, to the cooking appliance 200, request information requestingtransmission of temperature information indicating the temperature of acooking utensil together with heating power control information.

Next, when the communication section 13 receives the heating powercontrol information and the request information, the control section 24of the cooking appliance 200 acquires temperature information(hereinafter referred to as first temperature information) on thetemperature detected by a temperature sensor (not illustrated) and thencontrols the function section 21 on the basis of the heating powercontrol information (e.g., information instructing the cooking appliance200 to change the heating power from medium heat to low heat). Then, thecommunication section 23 transmits the first temperature information tothe terminal 100.

Next, the control section 14 of the terminal 100 causes the firsttemperature information received by the communication section 13 to bestored in the storage section 12. Then, when the communication section13 receives the second detection information, the communication section13 transmits the request information to the cooking appliance 200 again.Upon receipt of the request information, the cooking appliance 200transmits temperature information (hereinafter referred to as secondtemperature information) to the terminal 100 in a similar manner to thatdescribed above.

Next, the control section 14 of the terminal 100 causes the secondtemperature information received by the communication section 13 to bestored in the storage section 12. Then, the control section 14 reads outthe first temperature information and the second temperature informationfrom the storage section 12 at a predetermined timing and determineswhether or not a difference between the temperature indicated by thesecond temperature information and the temperature indicated by thefirst temperature information is less than a predetermined thresholdvalue.

In a case where it is determined that the difference between thetemperature indicated by the second temperature information and thetemperature indicated by the first temperature information is not lessthan the predetermined threshold value, the control section 14 generatesheating power control information. For example, the control section 14generates heating power control information instructing the controlsection 24 of the cooking appliance 200 to change the heating power toheating power (high heat) higher than predetermined heating power (e.g.,medium heat) indicated by information on heating power included incooking condition information read out from the storage section 12 andthen, when the temperature indicated by the first temperatureinformation is reached, change the heating power to the predeterminedheating power (e.g., medium heat) indicated by the information onheating power. Then, this heating power control information istransmitted from the terminal 100 to the cooking appliance 200.

When the heating power control information is received by thecommunication section 23, the control section 24 of the cookingappliance 200 controls the heating power of the function section 21 onthe basis of the heating power control information. Thus, the heatingpower of the function section 21 is changed from low heat to high heatand, when the temperature indicated by the first temperature informationis detected by the temperature sensor, the heating power is changed tomedium heat.

As described above, according to the present modification, in a casewhere a difference between the temperature of a cooking utensil detectedwhen a user leaves a kitchen and the temperature of the cooking utensildetected when the user returns to the kitchen is not less than apredetermined threshold value, the temperature of the cooking utensilcan be changed, in a short period of time, back to the temperaturedetected when the user left the kitchen. This allows the user tosmoothly continue cooking.

Modification 5

For example, in a case where a predetermined control method is performedon the basis of heating power control information, the terminal 100 mayoutput information (hereinafter referred to as notification information)indicating the contents of the control method. This specific example isdescribed below.

For example, in a case where a control method for changing the heatingpower from medium heat to low heat is performed on the basis of heatingpower control information, the control section 14 of the terminal 100controls the output section 11 to output, as notification information,at least one of an image and sound indicating the change from mediumheat to low heat. The notification information may be output, forexample, only at the time of transmission of the heating power controlinformation to the cooking appliance 200 or during a period of time fromtransmission of the heating power control information to the cookingappliance 200 to reception of the second detection information.

In the above description, the terminal 100 outputs the notificationinformation. However, the cooking appliance 200 may output thenotification information. In this case, the control section 24 of thecooking appliance 200 controls an output section (not illustrated) ofthe cooking appliance 200 to output notification information receivedfrom the terminal 100.

As described above, according to the present modification, a user canrecognize that the heating power has been changed when the user leaves akitchen or returns to the kitchen.

Modification 6

In the above embodiment, a case where the terminal 100 specifies aheating method that is being executed in the cooking appliance 200 onthe basis of recipe information (see, for example, FIG. 2) correspondingto a cooking step image that is being output has been described.However, the method for specifying a heating method that is beingexecuted is not limited to this. For example, in a case where thecooking appliance 200 has a plurality of heating modes (operation modescorresponding to the types of heating methods, e.g., a mode for“boiling”, a mode for “steaming”), the terminal 100 may receiveinformation indicating a heating mode from the cooking appliance 200when a heating method is started in the cooking appliance 200 and thenspecify the heating method that is being executed in the cookingappliance 200 on the basis of the heating mode indicated by thisinformation.

Modification 7

In the above embodiment, the human detecting sensor 300 is used as aunit (hereinafter referred to as a user detecting unit) for detectingthe presence or absence of a user in a kitchen. However, the userdetecting unit is not limited to this. Other examples of the userdetecting unit are described below.

For example, a camera that is capable of photographing the entirekitchen and an image processing device that recognizes the presence orabsence of a user in the kitchen by performing image analysis of animage captured by the camera may be used. In this case, both of thecamera and the image processing device may be provided outside theterminal 100 or may be provided inside the terminal 100. Alternatively,it is possible to employ an arrangement in which the camera is providedoutside the terminal 100, and the image processing device is providedinside the terminal 100. Note that in a case where the image processingdevice is provided outside the terminal 100, the image processing devicehas a function of transmitting information on a result of imagerecognition (an example of detection information) to the terminal 100.

Alternatively, for example, a tag which a user carries and in whichidentification information of the user is stored and a reader thatacquires the identification information from the tag via near-fieldradio communication may be used. An example of such a technique is anRFID (Radio Frequency IDentifier). The reader may be provided outsidethe terminal 100 or may be provided inside the terminal 100. Note thatin a case where the reader is provided outside the terminal 100, thereader has a function of transmitting the identification informationacquired from the tag to the terminal 100.

The control section 14 of the terminal 100 determines that a user ispresent in a kitchen while the communication section 13 is receiving theidentification information from the reader provided outside the terminal100 or while the reader provided inside the terminal 100 is acquiringthe identification information. Then, the control section 14 performsprocessing similar to that performed when the second detectioninformation is received in the above embodiment.

Meanwhile, the control section 14 determines that a user is absent fromthe kitchen while the communication section 13 is not receiving theidentification information from the reader provided outside the terminal100 or while the reader provided inside the terminal 100 is notacquiring the identification information. Then, the control section 14performs processing similar to that performed when the first detectioninformation is received in the above embodiment.

In the above example, an indoor positioning technology may be used. Forexample, the presence or absence of a user in a kitchen may bedetermined on the basis of (i) information on the position of the usermeasured based on the identification information acquired from the tagand (ii) information on the predetermined position (or region) of thekitchen. For example, this determination may be performed by the readeror may be performed by the control section 14 of the terminal 100.

Alternatively, for example, a cooking utensil including a human bodycommunication module in which identification information of a user isstored and a transmitting device that is capable of performingnear-field radio communication with the terminal 100 may be used. Inthis case, when the user touches the cooking utensil, the identificationinformation is transmitted from the human body communication module tothe transmitting device. Then, the transmitting device transmits theidentification information received from the human body communicationmodule to the terminal 100.

The control section 14 of the terminal 100 determines that the user ispresent in the kitchen while the communication section 13 is receivingthe identification information from the transmitting device. Then, thecontrol section 14 performs processing similar to that performed whenthe second detection information is received in the above embodiment.

Meanwhile, the control section 14 determines that the user has left thekitchen in a case where the communication section 13 ceases to receivethe identification information from the transmitting device. Then, thecontrol section 14 performs processing similar to that performed whenthe first detection information is received in the above embodiment.

Alternatively, for example, a microphone that collects sound occurringduring cooking (e.g., sound of a kitchen knife, sound of running water)or voice of a user and a sound recognition device or a voice recognitiondevice that recognizes the presence or absence of the user in a kitchenby performing sound recognition or voice recognition of the sound orvoice collected by the microphone may be used. In this case, both of thecamera and the sound or voice recognition device may be provided outsidethe terminal 100 or may be provided inside the terminal 100.Alternatively, it is possible to employ an arrangement in which themicrophone is provided outside the terminal 100, and the sound or voicerecognition device is provided inside the terminal 100. In a case wherethe sound or voice recognition device is provided outside the terminal100, the sound or voice recognition device has a function oftransmitting information on a result of sound or voice recognition (anexample of detection information) to the terminal 100.

Other examples of the user detecting unit have been described above.Note that more accurate detection may be achieved by appropriatelycombining the aforementioned types of user detecting units and the humandetecting sensor 300.

Modification 8

The control section 14 of the terminal 100 may determine whether or nota person who has returned to a kitchen is the same as a person who leftthe kitchen. In this case, the combination of a camera and an imageprocessing device or the combination of a tag and a reader described inModification 7 can be used. In the former case, it is determined thatthe two persons (the person who left the kitchen and the person who hasreturned to the kitchen) are the same in a case where a result ofanalysis (e.g., face recognition) of an image captured when the userleft the kitchen is the same as a result of analysis of an imagecaptured when the user returned to the kitchen. In the latter case, itis determined that the two persons are the same in a case whereidentification information acquired when the user left the kitchen isthe same as identification information acquired when the user returnedto the kitchen.

For example, in a case where the above determination is performed withina certain period of time from receipt of the first detection information(e.g., between Step S12 and Step S14 of FIG. 4), the control section 14operates as follows. For example, in a case where it is determined thatthe two persons are the same, the control section 14 does not performgeneration of heating power control information indicating a controlmethod for reducing the heating power (e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4). Thatis, in this case, the heating power at the time when the user left thekitchen is maintained. This is because it can be said that in a casewhere the person who has returned to the kitchen is the user himself orherself, the risk is small even if the heating power is maintained.Meanwhile, in a case where it is determined that the two persons are notthe same, the control section 14 generates heating power controlinformation indicating a control method for reducing the heating power(e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4). That is, in this case, the heating power isreduced from the heating power at the time when the user left thekitchen.

For example, in a case where the above determination is performed aftergeneration of heating power control information indicating a controlmethod for reducing the heating power (e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4), thecontrol section 14 operates as follows. For example, in a case where itis determined that the two persons are the same, the control section 14generates heating power control information indicating a control methodfor changing the heating power back to the original heating power (e.g.,the control method described in Modifications 3 and 4). That is, in thiscase, the heating power that has been reduced by the control method forreducing the heating power returns to the predetermined heating power.This is because it can be said that in a case where the person who hasreturned to the kitchen is the user himself or herself, the risk issmall even if the heating power is changed back to the original heatingpower. Meanwhile, for example, in a case where it is determined that thetwo persons are not the same, the control section 14 stops generation ofthe heating power control information indicating a control method forchanging the heating power back to the original heating power (e.g., thecontrol method described in Modifications 3 and 4). That is, in thiscase, execution of the control method for reducing the heating power ismaintained.

As described above, according to the present modification, even in acase where a person other than a user enters a kitchen, it is possibleto prevent a situation in which the control operation for reducing theheating power described in the above embodiment is not performed or asituation in which the control operation for changing the heating powerback to the original heating power described in Modifications 3 and 4 isperformed.

In the above description, it is determined whether or not a person whohas returned to a kitchen is the same as a person who left the kitchen.Alternatively, it is possible to employ an arrangement in which it isdetermined whether or not a person who has entered the kitchen is aperson registered in advance as a person who cooks. The person who cooksis a person (e.g., a husband or a wife) other than a user who left thekitchen and is a person who takes over cooking. Note that thisdetermination can be achieved by using the combination of a camera andan image processing device or the combination of a tag and a reader, asin the above description.

For example, in a case where the above determination is performed withina certain period of time from receipt of the first detection information(e.g., between Step S12 and Step S14 of FIG. 4), the control section 14operates as follows. For example, in a case where a person who hasentered a kitchen is a person registered in advance as a person whocooks, the control section 14 does not perform generation of heatingpower control information indicating a control method for reducing theheating power (e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4). Meanwhile, for example, in acase where the person who has entered the kitchen is not a personregistered in advance as a person who cooks, the control section 14generates heating power control information indicating a control methodfor reducing the heating power (e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4).

For example, in a case where the above determination is performed aftergeneration of heating power control information indicating a controlmethod for reducing the heating power (e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4), thecontrol section 14 operates as follows. For example, in a case where aperson who has entered a kitchen is a person registered in advance as aperson who cooks, the control section 14 generates heating power controlinformation indicating a control method for changing the heating powerback to the original heating power (e.g., the control method describedin Modifications 3 and 4). In this case, the heating power may bechanged back to the original heating power after output of sound or animage indicating that the heating power is changed back to the originalheating power. Alternatively, in order to achieve higher safety, it ispossible to employ an arrangement in which sound or an image asking “Doyou take over cooking?” is output, and the heating power is changed backto the original heating power in a case where an operation of approvalof taking over cooking by the person who cooks is accepted. Meanwhile,for example, in a case where it is determined that the person who hasentered the kitchen is not a person registered in advance as a personwho cooks, the control section 14 stops generation of heating powercontrol information indicating a control method for changing the heatingpower back to the original heating power (e.g., the control methoddescribed in Modifications 3 and 4).

In the above description, it is determined whether or not a person whohas returned to a kitchen is the same as a person who left the kitchen.Alternatively, it is possible to employ an arrangement in which it isdetermined whether or not a person who has entered the kitchen is achild. For example, the control section 14 estimates the height of theperson who has entered the kitchen on the basis of a result of detectionusing an infrared sensor or a result of image analysis using an imageprocessing device and determines that the person is a child in a casewhere the estimated height is equal to or lower than a threshold value.

For example, in a case where it is determined that the person who hasentered the kitchen is a child within a certain period of time fromreceipt of the first detection information (e.g., between Step S12 andStep S14 of FIG. 4) or after generation of heating power controlinformation indicating a control method for reducing the heating power(e.g., Step S15 of FIG. 4), the control section 14 performs a controloperation of outputting alarm sound and completely stopping heating.

Modification 9

In the above embodiment, a case where heating power control is achievedby communication between the terminal 100 and the cooking appliance 200has been described. However, the functions of the storage section 12,the communication section 13, and the control section 14 of the terminal100 may be realized by the storage section 22, the communication section23, and the control section 24 of the cooking appliance 200. In thiscase, for example, the storage section 22 stores therein the recipeinformation of FIG. 2 and the control method information of FIG. 3. Forexample, the communication section 23 receives detection informationfrom the human detecting sensor 300. For example, the control section 24performs processing for outputting cooking step image (the cooking stepimage may be output to an output section (not illustrated) of thecooking appliance 200 or may be output to the output section 11 of theterminal 100), processing for generating heating power controlinformation, or the like.

Modifications of the embodiment of the present disclosure have beendescribed above. Note that the modifications may be combined in any way.

Example in Which Functions are Realized by Computer Programs

The embodiment and modifications of the present disclosure have beendescribed in detail above with reference to the drawings. The functionsof the terminal 100 and the cooking appliance 200 (hereinafter referredto as devices) can be realized by computer programs.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a computerwhich realizes the functions of each section by programs. This computer1000 includes an input device 1001 such as an input button or a touchpad, an output device 1002 such as a display or a speaker, a CPU(Central Processing Unit) 1003, an ROM (Read Only Memory) 1004, and anRAM (Random Access Memory) 1005. Furthermore, the computer 1000 includesa storage device 1006 such as a hard disc device or an SSD (Solid StateDrive), a reading device 1007 that reads information from a recordingmedium such as a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory) or aUSB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, and a transmitting receiving device1008 that performs communication via a network. These members areconnected via a bus 1009.

The reading device 1007 reads programs for realizing the functions ofeach section from a recording medium in which the programs are storedand then causes the programs to be stored in the storage device 1006.Alternatively, the transmitting receiving device 1008 downloads theprograms for realizing the functions of each section from a serverdevice connected to the network by communicating with the server deviceand causes the programs to be stored in the storage device 1006.

Then, the CPU 1003 copies the programs stored in the storage device 1006to the RAM 1005 and then sequentially reads out commands included in theprograms from the RAM 1005 and execute the commands. In this way, thefunctions of each section are realized. Moreover, when the programs areexecuted, information obtained in the various kinds of processingdescribed in the embodiment is stored in the RAM 1005 or the storagedevice 1006 and is appropriately used.

The present disclosure is suitably applicable to a heating power controldevice and a heating power control method for controlling heating powerof a cooking appliance, and a recording medium storing a computerprogram for controlling heating power of a cooking appliance.

1. A heating power control device comprising: a storage in which controlmethod information is stored, the control method information indicatinga relationship between each of a plurality of heating methods of aningredient and each of a plurality of corresponding control methods forreducing heating power of a cooking appliance; and a controller that (i)receives first information indicating an absence of a user of thecooking appliance from a kitchen is detected or a presence of the userin the kitchen is detected, (ii) determines whether or not the user isabsent from the kitchen for a predetermined period of time duringexecution of one of the plurality of heating methods based on thereceived first information, (iii) reads out the control methodinformation from the storage, in a case where it is determined that theuser is absent from the kitchen for the predetermined period of time,(iv) determines a first control method corresponding to the one of theplurality of the heating methods based on the read control methodinformation, and then causes the cooking appliance to execute the firstcontrol method.
 2. The heating power control device according to claim1, wherein the predetermined period of time is a period of time requiredfor cooking using the one of the plurality of the heating methods. 3.The heating power control device according to claim 1, wherein thecontroller receives second information indicating that a presence of aperson in the kitchen is detected; in a case where the secondinformation is received within the predetermined period of time from astart of detection of the absence of the user from the kitchen, thecontroller determines whether or not the person is the user; in a casewhere it is determined that the person is not the user, the controllercauses the cooking appliance to execute the first control method; and ina case where it is determined that the person is the user, thecontroller does not cause the cooking appliance to execute the firstcontrol method.
 4. The heating power control device according to claim1, wherein in a case where the first information indicating the presenceof the user in the kitchen is detected is received after execution ofthe first control method, the controller causes the cooking appliance toexecute a second control method for changing the heating power topredetermined heating power set for the one of the plurality of theheating methods.
 5. The heating power control device according to claim4, wherein the controller receives second information indicating that apresence of a person in the kitchen is detected; in a case where thesecond information is received after execution of the first controlmethod, the controller determines whether or not the person is the user;in a case where it is determined that the person is not the user, thecontroller causes the cooking appliance to keep executing the firstcontrol method; and in a case where it is determined that the person isthe user, the controller causes the cooking appliance to execute thesecond control method.
 6. The heating power control device according toclaim 1, wherein the controller receives temperature informationindicating a temperature detected in the cooking appliance; in a casewhere the first information indicating the presence of the user in thekitchen is detected after execution of the first control method, thecontroller determines whether or not a difference between a firsttemperature and a second temperature is less than a predeterminedthreshold value, the first temperature being indicated by thetemperature information that is received when the first informationindicating the absence of the user from the kitchen is detected isreceived and the second temperature being indicated by the temperatureinformation when the first information indicating the presence of theuser in the kitchen is detected is received; and in a case where thedifference between the first temperature and the second temperature isnot less than the predetermined threshold value, the controller causesthe cooking appliance to execute a third control method for changing theheating power to heating power higher than predetermined heating powerset for the one of the plurality of the heating methods and then, whenthe controller determines a temperature indicated by the receivedtemperature information reaches the first temperature, causes thecooking appliance to change the heating power back to the predeterminedheating power.
 7. The heating power control device according to claim 6,wherein the controller receives second information indicating that apresence of a person in the kitchen is detected; the controllerdetermines whether or not the person is the user after execution of thefirst control method; in a case where it is determined that the personis not the user, the controller causes the cooking appliance to executethe first control method; and in a case where it is determined that theperson is the user, the controller causes the cooking appliance toexecute the third control method.
 8. The heating power control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller receives power informationindicating heating power of the cooking appliance; in a case whereheating power indicated by the power information that is received at astart of the one of the plurality of heating methods does not matchpredetermined heating power set for the one of the plurality of heatingmethods, the controller causes the cooking appliance to execute a fourthcontrol method for changing the heating power to the predeterminedheating power.
 9. A heating power control method comprising: receivinginformation indicating an absence of a user of the cooking appliancefrom a kitchen is detected or a presence of the user in the kitchen isdetected; determining whether or not the user is absent from the kitchenfor a predetermined period of time base on the received information; ina case where it is determined that the user is absent from the kitchenfor the predetermined period of time during execution of one of aplurality of heating methods of an ingredient, reading out controlmethod information from a storage in which the control methodinformation is stored, the control method information indicating arelationship between each of the plurality of heating methods and eachof a plurality of corresponding control methods for reducing heatingpower of the cooking appliance; determining a first control methodcorresponding to the one of the plurality of heating methods that isbeing executed in the cooking appliance based on the read control methodinformation; and controlling the cooking appliance to execute the firstcontrol method.
 10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumstoring a program for causing a computer to: receive informationindicating an absence of a user of the cooking appliance from a kitchenis detected or a presence of the user in the kitchen is detected;determine whether or not the user is absent from the kitchen for apredetermined period of time base on the received information; in a casewhere it is determined that the user is absent from the kitchen for thepredetermined period of time during execution of one of a plurality ofheating methods of an ingredient, read out control method informationfrom a storage in which the control method information is stored, thecontrol method information indicating a relationship between each of theplurality of heating methods and each of a plurality of correspondingcontrol methods for reducing heating power of the cooking appliance;determine a first control method corresponding to the one of theplurality of heating methods that is being executed in the cookingappliance based on the read control method information; and control thecooking appliance to execute the first control method.
 11. The heatingpower control device according to claim 1, wherein the first controlmethod is a method for reducing the heating power used in the one of theplurality of heating methods.